Corner covering apparatus

ABSTRACT

A corner covering apparatus includes a diamond shaped body that is at least substantially planar, and formed of a material impervious to water and oil based compositions, such as paints, varnishes, staining agents and the like. One side is typically smooth while the other side is typically sticky, as it holds adhesive, typically a weak adhesive, that will not damage the surface to where it is applied.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to materials for preparation for painting. In particular, the present invention includes an apparatus for covering corners of areas, to protect the underlying portions of the ceilings, floors or walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to painting, it is important to prepare the area to be painted, so as to cover areas where paint is not desired. This preparation must be done carefully and properly, as should paint reach any undesired areas, these areas can be permanently damaged. Even if removal of the paint is possible, it is expensive, and may even cause further damage. Moreover, removal of the unwanted paint may never completely repair the damage.

Rooms are typically prepared for painting, by placing drop cloths or other sheets over the ceilings, floors and walls, with masking tape, typically along the edges and borders. These edges and borders are typically where walls join ceilings or floors, or floors or ceilings join trim, moldings or the like. Alternately, strips of masking tape may simply be placed along the ceilings or floors at the borders with the walls.

A particular problem occurs at corners of a room, where the walls meet at the ceiling or floor. Painters typically prepare corners on ceilings and floors by overlapping the strips of masking tape running along the junctions of the floor/ceiling and the wall. They then place additional tape into the corner, to make sure the entire area is covered. This is time consuming and wasteful of material. Moreover, in many cases, the corner remains inadequately covered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with conventional methods and materials used in preparing corners of room for painting, by providing a corner covering apparatus. This corner covering apparatus seats securely in corners, properly covering them with a sufficient amount of material. It also reduces material waste, as a single apparatus can be used for each corner.

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a covering apparatus having a body formed of a substantially planar material at least impervious to liquids. The body includes adhesive along at least a portion of the body, and has a first end configured for seating in a corner formed by the junction of adjacent walls along a plane. The plane is at least substantially orthogonal to, and typically orthogonal to, the adjacent walls.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a covering apparatus. This covering apparatus has a diamond-shaped body formed of a substantially planar material. It is at least impervious to liquids and includes adhesive along at least a portion, for example, one side, of the body. The side of the body opposite the adhesive side is typically a smooth side.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a covering apparatus having a body formed of a substantially planar material at least impervious to liquids. The body includes a first end configured for seating in a corner, formed by the junction of adjacent walls, along a plane at least substantially orthogonal to the adjacent walls. The apparatus also includes an adhesive layer in along at least a portion, for example, a side of, the body.

Another embodiment is directed to a method for protecting a corner. This method includes, providing a covering apparatus including at least one end squared end configured for seating in a corner, the corner formed of intersecting members, and at least one side configured for adhering to a surface, the surface at least substantially planar and at least substantially orthogonal to the intersecting members. The covering apparatus is then positioned in a corner by placing the apparatus such that the squared end seats at least proximate to the corner, and, by placing the at least one side configured for adhering to a surface into contact with the surface.

Another embodiment is directed to a method for covering portions of a first surface and a second surface. The method includes, providing a body having an at least substantially linear first edge and the remainder of the body extending below said first edge, the body including at least one side configured for adhering to surfaces. The body is then positioned such that the first edge is proximate a third surface at least substantially orthogonal to the first surface and the second surface. The body is then placed into contact with portions of the first surface and the second surface by contacting the at least one side configured for adhering to surfaces with the first surface and the second surface. The body can be folded, typically into halves, typically symmetric, to facilitate placement and contact with each of the first and second surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Attention is now directed to the drawing figures, where corresponding or like components are indicated by corresponding or like reference numerals or characters. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus in an exemplary operation;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the apparatus in a second exemplary operation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the result of the second exemplary operation; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus used in a third exemplary operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 show the apparatus 20 of the present invention. The apparatus 20 includes a body 22, having a first or smooth side 24, and a second or sticky side 26, that accommodates adhesives and the like. The body 22 also has a squared end 28, and a truncated end 29.

The body 22 is typically planar (at least substantially planar), and for example, formed from a material sheet. It is polygonal, and typically diamond-like in shape. This polygon is typically a five-sided polygon, formed of lateral sides 31-35, with each side defining an edge 31 a-35 a. The edges 31 a-35 a of the lateral sides 31-35, join so as to form angles θ, α and Φ therebetween.

In an exemplary apparatus 20, sides 31 and 32 are of equal length. Sides 33 and 34 are also equal in length. The paired sides 31 and 32, 33 and 34, and single side 35 are each of different lengths. The edges 31 a-35 a of each respective side 31-35 intersect, such that an angle θ is formed by the junction of sides 31 and 32, and angle α is formed by the junctions of sides 31 and 33 and sides 32 and 34, respectively, and angles Φ are formed by the junctions of sides 33 and 35, and sides 34 and 35, respectively. Angles θ and α, are typically right or approximately right angles, while angles Φ are approximately 135°.

Alternately, sides 33 and 34 can be angled inward or outward with respect to sides 31 and 32 respectively. Accordingly, the angles a between these sides, do not have to be right or substantially right angles. This would also change the angles Φ accordingly.

The second or sticky side 26 typically includes a layer of adhesive 37, for example, a weak adhesive that sticks to surfaces but can be removed from them without damaging them (e.g., removing paint or the like), on all or portions of it. The second or sticky 26 side is typically joined to a release layer 40. This release layer 40 is typically of a material that is inert to the adhesive on the second or sticky side 26. With this release layer 40, the body 22 is kept flat and free of bends, kinks, folds, gathers or the like, in a condition whereby potential damage to it is minimized, prior to its use.

The release layer 40 may include cuts 42, slits, or other weakened portions, allowing for the release layer 40 to be easily peeled off of the body 22 when use is desired. Alternately, the release layer 40 can be in a sheet, such that when removal of the bodies 22 for use is desired, the bodies 22 are merely peeled off of the release sheet.

The body 22 of the apparatus 20 can be made of any conventional sheet-like material or other suitable material, that is oleophobic and/or hydrophobic. This material is impervious to the passage of water based materials or oil based materials through it, these materials being for example, paints, varnishes, lacquers, primers, coatings, staining agents and the like. The adhesive (adhesive layer) 37 can be along all or portions of the second side 26, and it is typically a weak adhesive, that will allow for the desired attachment to walls, floors, ceilings and the like, without the removal of any paint or coloring from the covered location upon removal of the body 22 from the covered location.

For example, the body 22 can be of masking tape, such as that suitable for painting, for example, SAFE-RELEASE® Masking Tape (Painter's Masking Tape), from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. The release layer 40 can be a release paper, such as a waxed paper, for example, CUT-RITE® waxed paper from Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, Va., or parchment paper, such as that from Reynolds Metals Co.

In an example embodiment of the apparatus 20, and making reference to FIGS. 1-3, sides corresponding to sides 31 and 32 can be four inches in length, while sides corresponding to sides 33 and 34 can be two inches in length. The side corresponding to side 35 can be 2.82 inches. Angles θ and α, can be right or approximately angles, while angles Φ can be at least approximately 135°. The apparatus 20 includes a body 22 made from masking tape, such as that disclosed above, so as to have a first or smooth side and a second or sticky side (with adhesive), and a release layer, inert to the adhesive (of the masking tape).

Turning to FIG. 4, an exemplary operation of the apparatus 20 is shown. Initially, the release layer 40 has been separated from the body 22, leaving the second or sticky side 26, with the adhesive exposed. The body 22 is then seated in the corner, formed by adjacent walls 61, 62 joining a ceiling 64. The squared end 28 (formed by sides 31 and 32) seats at the junction of the walls 61, 62, with its edges 31 a, 32 a in abutment with the junction of the respective walls 61, 62 and the ceiling 64 (typically a plane orthogonal to the walls 61, 62). The second or sticky side 26 is attached to the ceiling 64. Conventional coverage materials, typically in strips 66, such as masking tape, can then be placed onto the remaining portions of the ceiling 64 bordering the walls 61, 62, as necessary, to properly cover the requisite ceiling portions and save material.

The above operation can also be performed on floors, walls and the like.

FIGS. 5-7 detail a second exemplary operation for the apparatus 20, where it is used to cover the intersection of adjacent vertical walls 61, 62, that define an “inward” corner, typically proximate to the ceiling 64, that is, for example, a planar member orthogonal to the walls 61, 62. Initially, the body 22 is separated from the release layer 40, as shown in FIG. 5. It is then folded, typically in half, along its axis 22 a, as shown in FIG. 6, such that its fold point is on the second or sticky side 26. Alternately, the folding could be performed before the release layer 40 is removed.

The now folded body 22 is attached to the walls 61, 62 on its second or sticky side 26. As shown in FIG. 7, attachment is such that the edges 35 a of the body 22 abut the ceiling 64. The squared end 28 extends downward, toward the floor. The remaining borders of the walls 61, 62 and respective ceiling 64 junctions are then covered with coverage materials, typically in strips, such as masking tape.

Alternately, the above described process for placement on walls at a corner could be performed by first removing the release layer 40, separating the body 22 and exposing its second or sticky side 26. Half, or approximately half, of the body 22 could be attached to one wall 61, and then to the other wall 62, causing the body 22 to fold at least proximate to its axis 22 a. The edges 35 a of the body 22 would be placed into abutment with the ceiling 64. Still alternately, this process, where the release paper 40 is first removed, could then be followed by folding the body 22 and then applying it to the walls 61, 62, as described above.

The aforementioned process can also be used to cover walls proximate to floors (typically orthogonal to the walls, as detailed above), with the body 22 attached to the walls and the edges 35 a abutting the floor. The squared end 28 of the body 22 would extend upward, toward the ceiling. This process can also be used to cover a portion of a wall and a ceiling, or a portion of a floor and a ceiling.

FIG. 8 details a third exemplary operation for the apparatus 20, where it is used to cover the intersection of adjacent vertical walls 61, 62, that define an “outward” corner. In this embodiment, separation of the body 22 from the release layer 40 can be performed by any of the methods described for FIGS. 5 and 6 above. Additionally, folding the body 22, typically in half, except here, the fold point is on the first or smooth side 24, can be performed in accordance with any of the methods described for FIGS. 5 and 6 above.

The now exposed adhesive on the second or sticky side 26 of the body 22 is attached to the walls 61′, 62′. Attachment includes placing portions of the body 22, for example, the now-folded halves of the body 22, into contact with the walls 61′, 62′, with the edges 35 a abutting the ceiling 64 (for example, a planar member orthogonal to the walls 61′, 62′). The squared end 28 of the body 22 would extend downward, toward the floor.

This process can also be used to cover “outward” corners on walls proximate to floors (for example, orthogonal to the walls that form the “outward” corner). Here, the body 22 would attach to the walls, with the edges 35 a abutting the floor. The squared end 28 of the body 22 would extend upward, toward the ceiling.

There have been shown and described preferred embodiments of corner covering apparatus and methods for their use. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications for the corner covering apparatus and methods for their use are possible, and also such changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. A covering apparatus comprising: a body formed of a substantially planar material at least impervious to liquids and including adhesive along at least a portion of the body, the body including a first end configured for seating in a corner formed by the junction of adjacent walls, and along a plane at least substantially orthogonal to the adjacent walls.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes at least one side and the adhesive is on the at least one side.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end includes a substantially right angle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a second end opposite the first end, the second end formed by at least one straight edge.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a release layer inert to the adhesive, removably attachable to the body.
 6. A covering apparatus comprising: a diamond-shaped body formed of a substantially planar material at least impervious to liquids and including adhesive along at least a portion of the body.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the body includes at least one side and the adhesive is on the at least one side.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising a release layer inert to the adhesive, removably attachable from the body.
 9. A covering apparatus comprising: a body formed of a substantially planar material at least impervious to liquids, including a first end configured for seating in a corner formed by the junction of adjacent walls and along a plane at least substantially orthogonal to the adjacent walls; and; an adhesive layer in communication with at least a portion of the body.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adhesive layer is attached to the body.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first end includes a substantially right angle.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, additionally comprising a second end opposite the first end, the second end formed by a straight edge.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, additionally comprising a release layer inert to the adhesive layer, removably attachable from the body.
 14. A covering apparatus comprising: a diamond-shaped body formed of a substantially planar material at least impervious to liquids; and an adhesive layer in communication with at least a portion of the body.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adhesive layer is attached to the body.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, additionally comprising a release layer inert to the adhesive layer, removably attachable to the body.
 17. A method for protecting a corner comprising: providing a covering apparatus including at least one end squared end configured for seating in a corner, the corner formed of intersecting members, and at least one side configured for adhering to a surface, the surface at least substantially planar and at least substantially orthogonal to the intersecting members; and positioning said covering apparatus into a corner by placing the apparatus such that the squared end seats at least proximate to the corner; and placing the at least one side configured for adhering to a surface into contact with the surface.
 18. The method of claim 17, including: removing a layer of inert material from the covering apparatus to expose the at least one side configured for adhering to a surface.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one squared end is formed from edges at a right angle to each other, and the positioning the apparatus includes moving the apparatus such that the edges abut the intersecting walls at the surface.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the surface includes a ceiling.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the surface includes a floor.
 22. A method for covering portions of a first surface and a second surface comprising: providing a body having an at least substantially linear first edge and the remainder of the body extending below said first edge, the body including at least one side configured for adhering to surfaces; and positioning the body such that the first edge is proximate a third surface at least substantially orthogonal to the first surface and the second surface, and placing the body into contact with portions of the first surface and the second surface by contacting the at least one side configured for adhering to surfaces with the first surface and the second surface.
 23. The method of claim 22, additionally comprising: folding the body along an axis into approximately halves.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first surface and said second surface define a corner, and the third surface includes a ceiling.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein said first surface and said second surface define a corner, and the third surface defines a floor. 